Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

[pib] Gyan Bharatam Mission

11 September 2025 | Schemes | Art and Culture

Mains Paper 1: GS1-01.Indian Culture- Salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

Why in the News?

The Ministry of Culture has launched the ‘Gyan Bharatam’, a landmark national initiative dedicated to preserving, digitising, and disseminating India’s manuscript heritage.

About Gyan Bharatam Mission:

Launch: A national initiative by the Ministry of Culture to preserve, digitise, and disseminate India’s manuscript heritage.
Scheme Type: Approved as a Central Sector Scheme (2024–31) with an outlay of ₹482.85 crore.
Background: Builds on the National Mission for Manuscripts (2003), which documented 44.07 lakh manuscripts in the Kriti Sampada repository.
Vision: Integrates tradition with modern technology (AI, cloud systems, digital archives) to safeguard manuscripts as living knowledge resources.
Philosophy: Linked to PM’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision, positioning India as Vishwa Guru by combining heritage with innovation.

Key Features:

Identification & Documentation: Establishment of Manuscript Resource Centres (MRCs) for systematic registration across India.
Conservation & Restoration: Strengthening Manuscript Conservation Centres (MCCs) for preventive and curative preservation using scientific techniques.
Digitisation & Repository: Large-scale digitisation with AI-based Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR), microfilming, and creation of a National Digital Repository accessible worldwide.
Youth & Public Engagement: Programs like Gyan-Setu AI Innovation Challenge to involve youth, start-ups, and researchers in heritage innovation.

[UPSC 2008] Recently, the manuscripts of which one of the following have been included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register?

Options: (a) Abhidhamma Pitaka (b) Mahabharata (c) Ramayana (d) Rig Veda*

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Electronic System Design and Manufacturing Sector – M-SIPS, National Policy on Electronics, etc.

[pib] Incentive Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Recycling

6 September 2025 | Schemes | Economics

Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

Why in the News?

The Union Cabinet approved a ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme to promote recycling of critical minerals from secondary sources such as e-waste and battery scrap.

About Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme:

Launch: Approved under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).
Outlay: ₹1,500 crore over 6 years (FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31).
Objective: Build domestic recycling capacity for critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, rare earths) from secondary sources.
Rationale: Provides a near-term solution to supply chain challenges as mining projects require long lead times.
Targets:
- 270 kilotonnes annual recycling capacity.
- 40 kilotonnes minerals yield per year.
- ₹8,000 crore investment mobilised.
- ~70,000 jobs created.

Key Features:

Beneficiaries: Large recyclers, small/new recyclers, start-ups; one-third funds reserved for small/new entrants.
Feedstock Sources: E-waste, lithium-ion battery scrap, catalytic converters, other industrial scrap.
Coverage: Support for new units, as well as expansion, modernisation, and diversification of existing plants.
Capex Subsidy: 20% subsidy on plant & machinery for timely commissioning; reduced rates for delays.
Opex Subsidy: Tied to incremental sales over FY 2025–26 base year.
- 40% subsidy released in FY 2026–27.
- 60% subsidy released in FY 2030–31.
Incentive Caps:
- Large entities: ₹50 crore cap (₹10 crore max for opex).
- Small entities: ₹25 crore cap (₹5 crore max for opex).
Eligibility Restriction: Only for firms engaged in actual mineral extraction, not just intermediate “black mass” processing.

[UPSC 2021] Consider the following statements:

I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.

II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.

III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Options: (a) I and II only (b) II and III only (c) I and III only* (d) I, II and III

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

MGNREGA Scheme

20 Years of MGNREGS

6 September 2025 | Schemes | Social Justice

Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

Why in the News?

On the 20th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, concerns were raised over chronic underfunding of the scheme during the past decade.

About MGNREGS:

Overview: MGNREGS is a rights-based Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched under the MGNREGA Act of 2005 to ensure the Right to Work for rural households.
Origins:
- The idea of employment guarantee in India began with Maharashtra’s pilot, Employment Guarantee Scheme (MEGS), in 1965 under the Vasantrao Naik government.
- At the national level, the idea was first proposed in 1991 by then PM P. V. Narasimha Rao and later enacted in 2005.
Employment Guarantee: It provides 100 days of wage employment per year to any adult willing to do unskilled manual labour in rural India.
Legal Obligation: It is the first law in India that imposes a legal duty on the government to provide employment and compensate for non-compliance.
Development Goal: The scheme aims to promote livelihood security, inclusive growth, and rural development.

Key Features:

Statutory Right: Employment under MGNREGS is a legal entitlement, not just a welfare scheme.
Eligibility: Any rural adult aged 18 or above can apply and must be offered work within 15 days.
Proximity and Wages: Work must be provided within 5 km of the applicant’s residence with minimum wage, and delays attract compensation.
Unemployment Allowance: If work is not provided on time, the state must pay an allowance.
Demand-Driven Model: The scheme is worker-initiated, requiring the government to respond to demand.
Transparency and Audits: Regular social audits and online updates ensure accountability in job cards, muster rolls, and fund use.
Local Implementation: It is decentralised, led by Gram Panchayats, with support from block and state officials, and centrally funded.
Women’s Inclusion: At least one-third of beneficiaries must be women, enhancing gender equity.
Sustainable Assets: Projects focus on durable rural infrastructure like ponds, roads, canals, and plantations.

[UPSC 2006] Consider the following statements in respect of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005:

1. The Act provides 100 days of employment to households as a fundamental right.

2. Women are given priority such that half of the employment seekers are women.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 *

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Parliament – Sessions, Procedures, Motions, Committees etc

[pib] Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS)

4 September 2025 | Schemes | Governance

Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

Why in the News?

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) recently organized a national workshop on the e-SAKSHI web portal and mobile app for the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).

About MPLADS:

Overview: A Central Sector Scheme, launched in 1993, to empower MPs to recommend developmental works in their constituencies, focusing on durable community assets addressing local needs.
Administration: Initially under the Ministry of Rural Development; Since 1994, managed by MoSPI.
Implementation:
- State-level nodal department supervises implementation.
- District authorities sanction projects, release funds, and ensure execution.
Funding:
- Each MP gets ₹5 crore per year (since 2011–12).
- Disbursed by MoSPI in two instalments of ₹2.5 crore each to district authorities.
- Funds are non-lapsable i.e. carried forward if unutilized.
Targeted Allocation: Minimum 15% for SCs and 7.5% for STs.
Special Provisions:
- Up to ₹25 lakh annually can be spent outside constituency/state for national unity projects.
- Up to ₹1 crore can be allocated nationwide during severe natural calamities.
Eligible Projects:
- Durable community assets (e.g., libraries, community halls, ambulances, sports infrastructure, sanitation).
- MPLADS funds can be converged with MGNREGS or integrated with Khelo India for asset creation.
- Support allowed on lands of registered societies/trusts (3+ years old) engaged in welfare work.
- Prohibited for societies/trusts where the MP/family are office-bearers.
Transparency Measures:
- Plaque with MP’s name and project details must be installed at project sites.
- Project details listed in district offices, MPLADS website, and accessible via RTI.
Monitoring & Audit:
- District authorities inspect at least 10% of projects annually.
- Funds audited by statutory auditors.
- Regular review meetings at state and central levels.
e-SAKSHI platform: Enables MPs to digitally recommend, monitor, and track MPLADS projects, improving transparency, accountability, and efficiency in fund utilization.

[UPSC 2020] With reference to the funds under Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), which of the following statements are correct?

1. MPLADS funds must be used to create durable assets like physical infrastructure for health, education, etc.

2. A specified portion of each MP’s ‘fund must benefit SC/ST populations.

3. MPLADS funds are sanctioned on yearly basis and the unused funds cannot be carried forward to the next year.

4. The district authority must inspect at least 10% of all works under implementation every year.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Options: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 4 only*

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Primary and Secondary Education – RTE, Education Policy, SEQI, RMSA, Committee Reports, etc.

In news: Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan

2 September 2025 | Schemes | Indian Society

Mains Paper 2: Health & Education

Why in the News?

The Supreme Court intervened after Tamil Nadu faced ₹3,000+ crore reimbursements to private schools for economically disadvantaged students’ admissions, as the Centre declined to share costs under Samagra Shiksha.

About Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan:

Launch & Integration: Started in 2018 (by then Ministry of HRD), integrating Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE) into one holistic programme.
Benchmark Feature: Treats schooling as a continuous system from pre-primary to Class XII (ages 4–18), removing silos.
Funding Pattern: A Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with Centre–State sharing (60:40, 90:10 for NE/hilly states), implemented via a single State Implementation Society (SIS).
Policy Alignment: Aligned with NEP 2020 and UN SDG-4 (quality education).
Coverage: 1.16 million schools, 156+ million students, 5.7 million teachers across government & aided institutions.
Upgraded Phase: Samagra Shiksha 2.0 (2021–26) with focus on digital education, vocational training, FLN, and inclusion.

Key Features of the Scheme:

Unified Structure: One umbrella for pre-primary to Class XII, ensuring coherent planning.
Teachers & Technology:
- Continuous teacher training via SCERTs, DIETs, NISHTHA, SWAYAM.
- Digital initiatives: DIKSHA, Operation Digital Board, ICT labs, smart classrooms, AI-based learning tools.
Foundational Literacy & Numeracy: NIPUN Bharat Mission (ages 3–9) for universal reading & numeracy.
Vocational & Skill Education: Subjects like coding, robotics, financial literacy, AI with 1000+ training centres (from Class VI).
Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT): Uniforms, textbooks, transport allowance directly credited via IT platforms.
Holistic Development: Integration of sports, physical education, self-defence, soft skills under Khelo India.
Funding Scale: Allocation crossed ₹41,000 crore (2025); nationwide coverage till March 2026 under Samagra Shiksha 2.0.

[UPSC 2017] What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?

Options: (a) Achieving 100% literacy by promoting collaboration between voluntary organizations and government’s education system and local communities.

(b) Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies. *

(d) Developing human capital by allocating special funds for health-care and education of rural and urban poor, and organizing skill development programmes and vocational training for them.

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Microfinance Story of India

PM SVANidhi Scheme extended until 2030

28 August 2025 | Schemes | Economics

Mains Paper 3: issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources

Why in the News?

The Union Cabinet has approved the restructuring and extension of the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme.

About PM SVANidhi Scheme:

Launch: June 1, 2020, as Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
Purpose: To provide affordable credit to street vendors hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and help them restart/expand their businesses.
Target Group: Urban street vendors in statutory towns and peri-urban/rural areas.
Extension: Restructured and extended up to March 31, 2030.
Beneficiaries: 1.15 crore vendors, including 50 lakh new ones.

Key Features:

Collateral-free Loans (incremental):
- 1st tranche: ₹15,000 (earlier ₹10,000).
- 2nd tranche: ₹25,000 (earlier ₹20,000).
- 3rd tranche: ₹50,000.
Digital Empowerment:
- Timely 2nd loan repayment → eligibility for UPI-linked RuPay Credit Card (for emergent business/personal needs).
- Digital cashback incentives up to ₹1,600 on retail & wholesale transactions.
Capacity Building:
- Training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills, and marketing.
- Food safety & hygiene training for street food vendors (with FSSAI partnership).
Implementation:
- Jointly by MoHUA & Department of Financial Services (DFS).
- DFS facilitates loans & credit cards through banks/financial institutions.
Wider Goals:
- Promote financial inclusion & digital adoption.
- Enable vendors’ business expansion & sustainable growth.
- Contribute to inclusive urban economic development.

[UPSC 2011] Microfinance is the provision of financial services to people of low-income groups. This includes both the consumers and the self-employed. The service/services rendered under microfinance is/are:

1. Credit facilities 2. Savings facilities 3. Insurance facilities 4. Fund Transfer facilities

Options: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 4 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4*

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Financial Inclusion in India and Its Challenges

23% of PM Jan Dhan accounts inoperative

19 August 2025 | Schemes | Economics

Mains Paper 3: Inclusive Growth & Issues

Why in the news?

The Government informed Parliament that 23% of the 56.04 crore PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts are inoperative.

About Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY):

Launch: Introduced in 2014 as the world’s largest financial inclusion mission.
Objective: To provide banking to the unbanked, insurance to the unsecured, and credit to the unfunded.
Accounts: Basic Savings Bank Deposit (BSBD) accounts with zero balance, minimal paperwork, and e-KYC facility.
Benefits: RuPay debit card with accident insurance, overdraft, micro-insurance, and pension coverage.

Key Features:

Access: Universal banking through branches and Business Correspondents.
Overdraft: Up to ₹10,000 for eligible account holders.
Insurance: Accident cover of ₹1 lakh (₹2 lakh for new accounts post-2018); life cover of ₹30,000 for accounts opened between August 2014–January 2015.
Interoperability: Enabled via RuPay cards and Aadhaar-linked platforms.
Post-2018 Expansion: Coverage extended to all unbanked adults, overdraft limit enhanced, and eligibility age increased from 60 to 65 years.
Direct Benefit Transfers: Strengthened subsidy delivery through the JAM Trinity (Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile).

Do you know?

As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines (2009), an account is considered dormant if no transaction occurs for over two years.

[UPSC 2015] Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana’ has been launched for

Options:

(a) providing housing loan to poor people at cheaper interest rates

(b) promoting women’s Self-Help Groups in backward areas

(d) providing financial help to the marginalized communities

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

Government approves MERITE Scheme

9 August 2025 | Schemes | Indian Society

Mains Paper 2: Schemes For Vulnerable Sections

Why in the News?

The Union Cabinet has approved the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) Scheme for implementation in 275 technical institutions across India.

About MERITE Scheme:

Objective: Enhance quality, equity, and governance in technical education across all States and Union Territories, aligned with National Education Policy 2020.
Funding: Central Sector Scheme with ₹4,200 crore outlay (2025–26 to 2029–30), including ₹2,100 crore as World Bank loan.
Beneficiaries: About 7.5 lakh students; aims to boost institutional capacity in technical education.
Collaborations: Works with Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, All India Council for Technical Education, and National Board of Accreditation for implementation support.

Key Features:

Institutional Coverage: Includes National Institutes of Technology, State Engineering Colleges, Polytechnics, and Affiliating Technical Universities.
Fund Transfer: Direct funding from a Central Nodal Agency to institutions.
Academic Focus: Multidisciplinary programs, updated curriculum, faculty training.
Gender Inclusion: Special programs for women faculty and reducing gender disparity.
Skill Alignment: Launch of labour market-oriented courses and blended learning models.

[UPSC 2018] With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements:

1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.

3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Options: (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only* (d) 1, 2 and 3

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Higher Education – RUSA, NIRF, HEFA, etc.

Setubandha Scholar Scheme

31 July 2025 | Schemes | Social Justice
Mains Paper 2: Health & Education
Why in the News?

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) Division at Central Sanskrit University, has launched the Setubandha Scholarship Scheme.

About the Setubandha Scholarship Scheme:
- Objective: Acts as a bridge between traditional Gurukul learning and modern research, enabling the mainstreaming of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) into higher education.
- Target Group: Students trained under Gurus or in Gurukul systems for a minimum of 5 years.
- Focus: Encourages postgraduate and doctoral research across disciplines rooted in IKS.
- Institutions Involved: Provides access to mentorship and research facilities at top institutions like Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Key Features:
- Financial Support:
  - Postgraduate Scholars: Up to ₹1 lakh.
  - PhD Candidates: Up to ₹2 lakh.
  - Monthly Scholarships: Starting from ₹40,000.
- Eligibility:
  - Age limit: Below 32 years.
  - Minimum 5 years of Gurukul-based learning.
  - No formal degree required—classical knowledge proficiency is the key criterion.
- Scope of Research:
  - Supports 18 disciplines rooted in IKS, including:
    
    Vedic philosophy, Jyotisha, Ayurveda, Rasa Shastra
    
    Vastu Shastra, Dandaniti (political science), Indian arts and education
    
    Traditional law, linguistics, agriculture, and astronomy
- Broader Impact:
  - Fosters integration of ancient wisdom with modern scientific inquiry.
  - Recognizes and rewards excellence in traditional systems of knowledge.
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Railway Reforms

Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS)

29 July 2025 | Schemes | Economics

Mains Paper 3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways Etc.

Why in the News?

PM recently stated that 77 stations in Tamil Nadu are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS), positioning the state as a hub for railway transformation.

About the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS):

Launch: 2022 by the Ministry of Railways.
Goal: Modernise and develop railway stations through phased, long-term upgrades.
Master Plans: Each station gets a tailored roadmap for future improvements.
Focus Areas: Multimodal integration, seamless passenger movement, and upgraded amenities.
National Significance: Integral to India’s infrastructure push under the Viksit Bharat vision.

Key Features of ABSS:

Passenger Comfort: Larger waiting halls, clean toilets, executive lounges, lifts, escalators, free Wi-Fi, and business-meeting zones.
Accessibility & Connectivity: Expanded circulating areas, barrier-free access for persons with disabilities, and smooth links to other transport modes.
Aesthetic Upgrades: Modern façades, clear signage, landscaping, and consistently clean premises.
Technology & Information: Digital displays, real-time train info, and self-service e-ticketing kiosks.
Sustainability: Energy-efficient systems, green-building elements, and water-conservation measures.
Customised Development: Station facilities scaled to local footfall and needs—no one-size-fits-all approach.

[UPSC 2024] Consider the following statements:

I. Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a future ready railway system by 2028. II. ‘Kavach’ is an Automatic Train Protection system developed in collaboration with Germany. III. ‘Kavach’ system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section.

Which of the statements given above are not correct?

(a) I and II only (b) II and III only (c) I and III only (d) I, II and III*

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor

Type: Schemes

Why in the News?

About Gyan Bharatam Mission:

Key Features:

Why in the News?

About Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme:

Key Features:

Why in the News?

About MGNREGS:

Key Features:

Why in the News?

About MPLADS:

Why in the News?

About Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan:

Key Features of the Scheme:

Why in the News?

About PM SVANidhi Scheme:

Key Features:

Why in the news?

About Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY):

Key Features:

Do you know?

Why in the News?

About MERITE Scheme:

Key Features:

Why in the News?

About the Setubandha Scholarship Scheme:

Key Features:

Why in the News?

About the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS):

Key Features of ABSS:

About the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS):